A free pint, a game of football and a few days in Ireland

13 July 2013 04:50

I get enough early morning alarm calls ahead of away games during a football season and the first one for 2013/14 is tomorrow with the clocks already set to make their noise around 4:30 a.m.

My bag is all but packed and this is a trip I'm really looking forward to. Cork and the surrounding area is one I've not previously visited but is an area I can add to those I've taken in on pre-season trips.

Just a few years ago there were three trips to Austria, and some very scenic football grounds, and one to the Lake Garda area of Italy where the weather that hit us was even hotter than it is at home right now, and too hot for some of our party on that occasion.

Now it's Cork, and one game against the local Airtricity League club Cork City, along with the opportunity to see some of the places in the area, such as Kinsale, Spike Island and Clonakilty, over the next four days.

Burnley fans have already started arriving and the official supporters club trip should be close to their destination of Blarney by now after their coach departed Turf Moor early this morning for the sail from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire.

Our squad of players, who are based at the Fota Island Resort some nine miles out of Cork, left on Thursday and, according to reports, training has gone well for the 24 players who have made the trip.

We know that group includes trialist Scott Arfield and the latest addition David Jones, who looks set to be a full time Claret before the start of the season, with the rest of the squad basically those involved at Morecambe last Tuesday.

The free pint comes ahead of the game. Just have your Burnley shirt with you or any other Burnley items and co-chairman John B will be at the Beer Garden in Evergreen Road from 5:30 p.m. to buy you a pint.

John has checked out the pub today. He's sent a favourable response. He's asked me to advertise it again, and is hoping to welcome as many Clarets as possible. The pub, he said, is just about a three to four minute walk from the ground.

Just a reminder that Burnley fans will be situated in the St. Anne's End Stand for the game at Turner's Cross and tickets can be bought at huts close to the turnstiles from an hour before the 7 p.m. kick off.

There will be a full report of the game and the trip later in the week.